Global Cement News

Nepal: Imports of cement fell by 24% year-on-year in the first half of the local financial year. Data from the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) shows cement worth US$3.94m was imported in this period compared to US$4.88m in the same period in the pervious year, according to the Republica newspaper. However, imports of clinker grew by 8% to US$102,000 from US$95,000. Most of this material came from India.

Bangladesh: Lafarge Surma Cement has officially changed its name to LafargeHolcim Bangladesh following approval by its board of directors. The change takes place from 1 March 2018.

Taiwan: Protestors have called for the closure of Asia Cement’s quarry in Hualien. The government proposed an amendment to the Mining Act in December 2017 that would require quarries in aboriginal territories to obtain the consent of aboriginal communities, according to the Taipei Times newspaper. However, the quarry has been exempted because the Bureau of Mines extended the company’s mining rights by 20 years in early 2017. Aborigines from the Taroko National Park area said that the government’s approval of the amendment was ‘illegal’ and demanded that their traditional land, which is occupied by the quarry, be returned to them. Asia Cement said it would ensure that the mine is environmentally sound, that water sources near the mine are protected and that mining safety standards meet regulations. It added that it would also work with aboriginal communities and continue talks with them and the government as necessary.

Algeria: ETHRB Group has ordered an integrated cement plant from FLSmidth for a site at Relizane. The order has a cost of over Euro100m and it includes engineering, equipment supply, construction supervision, commissioning, and training. The deal comes from a partnership between FLSmidth and Beijing Triumph International Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China National Building Material Group Corporation, which will be responsible for the construction of the cement plant. The plant will mainly supply cement to the North African market. Once completed, the cement plant will have a capacity of 12,000t/day. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2020.

“This order underlines FLSmidth's strength as the leading supplier of the most productivity-enhancing solutions and energy-efficient equipment and technology available in the market today. It marks the culmination of a close collaboration between the customer and FLSmidth and demonstrates our ability to work with contractors from anywhere in the world based on our experience and competencies from the cement industry, our global presence, and the know-how of our 12,000 employees," said Per Mejnert Kristensen, Group Executive Vice President, Cement Division.

The scope of supply includes: two EV 200x300 Hammer Impact Crushers; one additive crusher; two circular storages; one longitudinal storage; two ATOX raw mills; two CF-silos (Ø18m x 52m); two preheaters (two string ILC, five stages); two kilns (5.25m x 62m); two Cross-Bar coolers (16m x 50m); a clinker silo (Ø 60m x 46 m); three OK61-4 cement mills; four cement silos (ø22x52 m); and six packing lines.

Vietnam: Vicem (Vietnam Cement Corporation) Hoang Thach Cement has ordered a type LM 59.3+3 CS vertical roller mill for the Hoang Thach cement plant in Hai Duong province. The mill has a transmission power of 6200kW and it is able to grind 250t/hr of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to a fineness of 3600 Blaine. Commissioning is scheduled for later in 2018.

The scope of supply also includes an external reject system, dedusting equipment, a material conveying system and multi-chamber silos with two packaging systems downstream. The system is equipped with a LOMA LF20 heater run on heavy oil, which produces around 30,000Nm³/hr of hot gas at a temperature of 450°C. In addition, Loesche is supplying the equipment for the power supply and distribution and the grinding plant control. A particular challenge of the project has been supplying new equipment for an existing plant with limited space.